July 4, 2025
What Most People Get Wrong About Manufacturing Lead Times — and What You Can Do About It
Summary. Lead time is more than just production time—it’s the total duration from order placement to delivery, and misunderstanding it can disrupt scheduling, cash flow, and customer satisfaction. Many assume lead times are consistent or that shorter always means more expensive, but that’s not always true. Variables like procurement delays, design revisions, and the need for turnkey services all impact...
July 4, 2025
What Most People Get Wrong About Manufacturing Lead Times — and What You Can Do About It
Summary. Lead time is more than just production time—it’s the total duration from order placement to delivery, and misunderstanding it can disrupt scheduling, cash flow, and customer satisfaction. Many assume lead times are consistent or that shorter always means more expensive, but that’s not always true. Variables like procurement delays, design revisions, and the need for turnkey services all impact...
June 6, 2025
Why Specialty Welding is Critical in the Medical and Food Industries
Summary. In industries like medical and food processing, “almost perfect” isn’t acceptable. Equipment must meet stringent standards for safety, cleanliness, and aesthetics—especially at welded joints. In medical device manufacturing, welds must withstand repeated sterilization, be biocompatible, and appear flawless in patient-facing environments. Food processing equipment requires welds free of pits and gaps that could trap bacteria, while also meeting FDA...
May 18, 2025
How the Right Contract Manufacturing Partner Reduces Total Cost of Ownership
Summary. Focusing solely on price when selecting a contract manufacturer can lead to costly consequences. At Mathison Manufacturing, we believe in looking beyond cost-per-part to consider the total cost of ownership. Choosing a low-cost partner often results in poor material quality, lack of DFM expertise, subpar cosmetic finishes, missed deadlines, and inadequate communication. In contrast, a skilled, reliable manufacturing partner...
April 15, 2025
Tariffs: How Steel and Aluminum Duties Are Reshaping Metal Fabrication
Summary. With 25% tariffs reinstated on imported steel and aluminum in March 2025, U.S. fabricators like Mathison Manufacturing are feeling the strain. While intended to support domestic mills, the real-world outcome has been skyrocketing material costs, unstable supply chains, and shrinking margins. For high-mix, low-volume shops, sourcing flexibility is limited, and quoting projects has become a delicate balancing act. Specialty...
January 16, 2025
How to Choose a Contract Manufacturing Partner
Summary. Selecting a contract manufacturer isn’t just about price—it’s about finding a true partner who can help you scale, innovate, and deliver quality. Whether you’re launching a new product or expanding capacity, choose a manufacturer that fits your production volume, offers value-added services like prototyping and assembly, and communicates proactively. Start by asking your network for referrals, then come prepared...